Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON, April 18th, 1887.
The past week as well as the pres
emit one is replete with anniversaries
which the old residents of Washing
ton can never forget. Twenty-Five
years ago last Friday morning
Abraham Lincoln died of the cruel
wound inflicted by John Wilkes
Booth at Ford's Theatre. The SEN
sation produced by the assassination
of the great War President thrilled
the Capital like the tremor of an
earthquake.
The whole country qnivered with
the shock. There had never been
nor has there been here since such a
period of horror, indignation, and
apprehension. 1t was even feared
that the tragedy might temporarily
undo the work that had just been
achieved and again unsettle the
foundations of the public peace.
Every one was frightened, every one
was regarded with suspicion. Neigh
bors yes, even old friends eyed each
other askance, while arrests were so
plentiful as to justify and prolong
the intense excitement.
The belief that the handsome, hot
blooded young actor was but the
chosen instrument of a well formed
conspiracy, in which many men of
note were concerned, made people
afraid of members of their own
family. Martial law practically pre-
vailed, and it was we'll nigh impossi-
BILE to pass The city limits. No man
was without suspicion, and it seemed
as if chaos itself had control. Never
was a nation more torn by excite
ment, or more sorely tried, and then
the other attempted assasslnatiOns,
and the wild cry for vengence-but
it is an old, old story.
It was the final baptism of the
Union in blood, and although the
great war went out liz tears, it left
behind it more lndestructible than
ever, all glories without and within,
the principles of constitutional
liberty, equal y and fraternity, fo-
which Lincoln, yielding the best
years Of his life, yielded life itself at
last.
Today the streets of the city have
been filled with colored people and
the music of brass bands. 1t is the
twenty fifth anniversary OF the eman-
cipatlon of slaves in the District of
Columbia, and it has been celebrat-
ed with street parade and other
exercises. The celebration was one
of the largest Of the kind which has
ever taken place here, and there
we're about 10000 people in the pro-
cesslon. Its line of March was
through the White House grounds,
and the President reviewed it, stand
ing on the front portico of the Man.
sion.
The decision of the Interstate
Commission that there is nothing in
the law to prohibit the railroads
from granting reduced rates to or
| CARNATIONS and individuals coming
to the National Drill, will relieve a
/ good many people in different parts
of the country of a misrepresentation
as to the Interpretation of the law,
and will tend greatly to increase the
crowd in attendance. AS the time
draws near all the leading railroad
lines are making arrangements for
carrying immense crowds of ex-
cursionists.
/ The White Lot, where the contest
will take place, has been turned over
by the War Department to the
Drill committee, and the erection OF
grand stands for spectators will
commence at once. Some of the
troops are coming in advance Of the
Drill, and consequently the work OF
putting the Monument grounds in
condition for the camp has to be car.
ried on as rapidly as possible. One
of the unsettled questions is, g What
soldier will be called to the com.
mand ~ 1t is urged that he should
be one of wide reputation. There
will be an immense concOurse OF
Americans gathered here and the
arrangements should be as national
as possible in every particular.
| The Bureau of Information and
Comfort Of the Drill committee, has
issued circular announcing that for
the benefit of strangers and visitors
in the city they propose to keep a
list of hotels, boarding and lodging
houses, where rooms and beds with
and without meals can be had
Rooms of all kinds and classes are
| registered at prices ranging from 81
upwards, and meals can be had from
rs cents upwards.
The Senatorial Select Committee,
which is Investigating the workings
of the Executive Departments here,
and trying to probe their methods
has undertaken a gigantic task
When its final report is made, how.
ever, the result of its labors will
doubtless be interesting and abound
in kind of information which is
now sealed book to the public.
The committee has an excellent
opportunity to find out for the bene.
fit of the public also, whether Civil
Service Reform is really all that its
friends claim or whether it is fraud,
as argued by its opponents.
Wonderful Cures.
w. D. Hoyt 6 Co, Wholesale and Re-
| 70 DrY rscfc IF IL Wy